Compare towns
Gardner vs Upton vs Sturbridge vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Gardner | Upton | Sturbridge | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.